Australian pilots begin missions over Syria, flying American Reaper drones

RAAF pilots are poised to begin flying deadly American Reaper drones over Syria, taking for the first time Australia's involvement in the fight against the so-called Islamic State from Iraq into the more complex neighbouring country.

A Defence spokesman has told Fairfax Media that five RAAF personnel are embedded with the United States Air Force's 432nd Operations Group, which flies armed MQ-9 Reaper drones.

"While the focus for [Australian Defence Force] operations to counter Daesh remains Iraq, a small number of Royal Australian Air Force personnel are now contributing directly to coalition operations to counter Daesh in Syria as well as Iraq, consistent with long-standing arrangements for ADF personnel embedded in US units," the spokesman said, using the alternative name for the Islamic State.

He said five RAAF personnel attached to the USAF were "performing operational duties with their parent unit as MQ-9 Unmanned Aircraft System pilots and sensor operators".

"The MQ-9 UAS comprises an armed remotely piloted aircraft that can also conduct remote intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations," he said.

"As part of their duties ... the RAAF personnel may be involved in target engagements."

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The 432nd Operations Group flies the drones out of Creech Air Force Base in Nevada.

The Australians began "mission qualification training" last week. Their involvement marks the first time Australian personnel have been directly involved in the air campaign against the Islamic State in Syria.

However this is likely to be expanded, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Thursday confirming Australia was in talks with allies about expanding its current air strikes in Iraq into neighbouring Syria. Fairfax Media understands such an expansion is likely to be approved.

The US, Canada, Britain and several Arab countries are already carrying out air strikes in Syria, in the US's case often using drones.

Such an attack is believed to have killed notorious Sydney jihadist Mohamed Elomar in June.

The RAAF's main operations currently involve carrying out air strikes in Iraq. Six Australia Hornet fighter planes are conducting the air raids. They are supported by a KC-30 aerial refueller and a Wedgetail command and control surveillance and radar aircraft.

These two support aircraft have also been supporting allied combat planes, including some that have carried out strikes in Syria, though the Australians have always stayed in Iraqi air space.

Syria, whose civil war fuelled the Islamic State's rise and where the group has its defacto capital, al-Raqqa, is seen as vital to the war against the militants. But military action there is much more sensitive and complex than in Iraq because any diminution of the militants' power strengthens by default the regime of the country's dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Syria also involves the interplay of interests of regional powers Iran and Turkey, as well as Russia.